Gauhati High Court has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for its Principal Seat, Outlying Benches, and subordinate courts across the Northeast in a significant move aimed at fuel conservation and improving administrative efficiency.
According to the new guidelines, matters listed before the courts on Mondays and Fridays will preferably be heard through video conferencing. Separate virtual hearing links will be provided for each matter, while Court Masters will coordinate proceedings to ensure smooth functioning.
The SOP introduces multiple measures to reduce fuel consumption and streamline court administration. Judges of the Gauhati High Court have been encouraged to adopt car-pooling arrangements wherever feasible, while the use of official vehicles for administrative purposes has been restricted. Departments and sections have also been directed to combine multiple requirements into single trips whenever possible.
Under the new arrangement, up to 50 per cent of employees in administrative and judicial sections will attend office on alternate days, depending on administrative convenience. However, officials exempted under the SOP will continue full physical attendance.
The High Court has strongly emphasised the use of the e-Office platform, directing that all administrative file movement and official communication be processed digitally. Physical transfer of files has been discouraged unless absolutely necessary.
Staff members working under the roster system but not physically present in office have been instructed to remain available through telephone, mobile phone and e-office during official working hours. They must also be prepared to report to office at short notice if required.
Registrars have been directed to prepare weekly rosters in advance, while Administrative Officers (Judicial) will monitor the e-office dashboard to ensure timely disposal of official work.
The SOP further states that administrative meetings of various committees will now be conducted through video conferencing, with meeting briefs circulated via email.
At the same time, several key sections, including the Protocol Section, Filing Section, Copying Section, Bench Section, Computer Section and the e-Courts Division, have been exempted from work-from-home arrangements and fuel-saving restrictions. The court observed that these divisions are essential for maintaining uninterrupted judicial proceedings, physical coordination, server management and stable video conferencing infrastructure.
The guidelines have also been extended to district courts across Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. District judges, Chief Judicial Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrates and Presiding Officers of tribunals and special courts have been directed to issue separate notifications for implementation in their respective jurisdictions.
Additionally, all training programmes conducted by the Judicial Academy, Assam will now be held through virtual or online mode.
The SOP will come into force from May 25, 2026, and remain effective till June 26, 2026, after which the situation will be reviewed.
